Nelsen in Line for New Zealand Award

Despite missing much of the footballing year Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen is again in line to scoop New Zealand's Player of the Year Award.

The 29-year-old New Zealander won the International Men's Player of the Year title for 2005 and is line to scoop the accolade again this year at the New Zealand Soccer's annual awards dinner on November 23rd.

Should Nelsen win the award it proves just how influential the Admiral was to both club and country in the early part of 2006, as he hasn't and will not play again for either in 2006 having missed the end of the 2005-2006 season so in all reality will have only played four months of football this year, if that!

Some cynics out there will argue that Nelsen will not face much competition but just because players may not be well known to everyone it doesn't mean they aren't as good, if not better than many of the more well known colleagues including Nelsen.

Nelsen faces competition from Hibernian's former Manchester City and Oldham Athletic striker Chris Killen and RKC Waalwijk midfielder Ivan Vicelic in his quest to make it back to back Awards.